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OCCURRENCE OF 'THE BUFF-BACKED HERON | 
(ARDEOLA IBIS IBIS) IN NORFOLK. 
By F. W. SMALLEY, M.B.O.U. 
On October 24th I received a letter from Mr. E. C. 
Saunders, of Great Yarmouth, asking me to go over to | 
see a locally killed bird which had been brought to 
him for identification and preservation, and which 
he considered to be an example of the Buff-backed 
Heron (Ardeola ibis ibis). I, therefore, at once hastened © 
over to Yarmouth, where I saw the bird in the flesh 
in Mr. Saunders’ shop, and found his identification 
to be correct. The body was, by request, sent to 
Mr. J: H. Gurney, in order that the sternum mmiehig 
be preserved, and Mr. Gurney writes me that the 
stomach of the bird contained two good-sized water | 
newts, the larva of a noctuid moth and an example of | 
the fish known as the Miller's Thumb (Cottus gobio). 
The newts, which were sent to me, I submitted to my 
friend Dr. William Eagle Clarke, of the Royal Scottish 
Museum, Edinburgh, from whom [I learn that they bez 
longed to the species known as the Smooth Newt (Molge 
vulgaris). 
The bird in question was shot by one Dan Banham, on 
Breydon Marshes, on the Norfolk side of the river, on 
October 23rd, 1917. It was first observed by two boys, 
who reported a small white bird feeding amongst the cattle 
onthe marsh. All three procured guns, and, surrounding 
the bird, it fell to the second barrel of Banham’s gun. 
After being mounted, I took the bird over to Norwich, 
where Mr. Gurney and I compared it with skins in his: 
collection, but were unable to say definitely whether, 
_ the bird was an adult or a birdof the year in first winter 
plumage ; the whole of the plumage being white with 
the exception of the head, which is tinged with b 
on the crown. Whilst the primaries, secondaries and 
tail appear freshly moulted, the rest of the plumage 
on the wings and back shows considerable aba 
from which:I personally am inclined to consider the bird L 
an adult. There were no signs of any active moult. 

